Annex I
Index of decisions and opinions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal
published in the Official Journal of the EPO

G 5/83
Decision of 05.12.1984
OJ EPO 1985, 64

"Second medical indication/EISAI"

–

Interpretation of the EPC/Vienna Convention - therapeutical use claims

Art. 52(1)(4), 54(5), 52, 57 EPC;
Art. 31, 32 Vienna Convention

G 1/86
Decision of 24.06.1987
OJ EPO 1987, 447

"Re-establishment of rights of opponent/VOEST ALPINE"

–

Re-establishment of rights of appellant as opponent - Time limit for filing grounds of appeal

Art. 108, third sentence, 112(1), 122 EPC

G 1/88
Decision of 27.01.1989
OJ EPO 1989, 189

"Opponent's silence/HOECHST"

–

Admissibility of appeal by opponent - Silence in response to an invitation under Rule 58(4) - Application of Rule 58(4)

Art. 102(3), 107 EPC
R. 58(4) EPC

G 2/88
Decision of 11.12.1989
OJ EPO 1990, 93
Corr. OJ EPO 1990, 469

"Friction reducing additive/MOBIL OIL III"

–

Amendment in opposition proceedings - change of category (here: from "compound" and "composition" to "use of compound for a particular purpose") - Novelty of such a use claim over disclosure of same compound for different purpose - Second non-medical indication

Art. 54, 64, 69, 112(1)(a), 123 EPC

G 4/88
Decision of 24.04.1989
OJ EPO 1989, 480

"Transfer of opposition/MAN"

–

Transfer of rights - status of party in opposition proceedings - dissolution of opposing company - legal person

Art. 99(4), 112(1)(a) EPC
R. 60(2) EPC

G 5/88, G 7/88, G 8/88
Decision of 16.11.1990
OJ EPO 1991, 137

"Administrative Agreement/MEDTRONIC"

–

Treatment of documents intended for the EPO and received by the German Patent Office in Berlin - Functions and powers of the President - Principle of good faith - Protection of the legitimate expectations of users of the EPO

Art. 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 33, 99(1), 112 EPC

G 6/88
Decision of 11.12.1989
OJ EPO 1990, 114

"Plant growth regulating agent/BAYER"

–

Second non-medical indication - Novelty of second non-medical use with same technical means of execution

Art. 54, 69, 112(1)(a) EPC

G 1/89
Decision of 02.05.1990
OJ EPO 1991, 155

"Polysuccinate esters"

–

Competence of the Enlarged Board of Appeal in protest cases under the PCT - Non-unity a posteriori

Art. 112(1)(a) and (b), 154(3) EPC
Art. 17(3)(a) PCT
R. 13, 33, 40 PCT

G 2/89
Opinion of 02.05.1990
OJ EPO 1991, 166

Non-unity a posteriori

–

Competence of the Enlarged Board of Appeal in protest cases under the PCT - Non-unity a posteriori

Art. 112(1)(b), 154(3) EPC
Art. 17(3)(a) PCT
R. 13, 33, 40 PCT

G 3/89
Opinion of 19.11.1992
OJ EPO 1993, 117

"Correction under Rule 88, second sentence, EPC"

–

Correction of the parts of a European patent application or of a European patent relating to the disclosure

Art. 100(c), 117(1), 123(1) (2), 138(1)(c) EPC
R. 86, 88, second sentence, EPC

G 1/90
Opinion of 05.03.1991
OJ EPO 1991, 275

"Revocation of the patent"

–

Revocation of the patent by a decision - Revocation, failure to meet formal requirements when the patent is maintained as amended - Termination of opposition proceedings - Loss of rights - legal fictions

Art. 102(4)(5), 106, 112(1)(b) EPC
R. 58(5), 69(1) EPC

G 2/90
Decision of 04.08.1991
OJ EPO 1992, 10

"Responsibility of the Legal Board of Appeal/KOLBENSCHMIDT"

–

Responsibility of the Legal Board of Appeal - Appeals against decisions of the formalities officer

Art. 21 EPC
R. 9(3) EPC

G 1/91
Decision of 09.12.1991
OJ EPO 1992, 253

"Unity/SIEMENS"

–

Unity in opposition - legally irrelevant

Art. 82, 102(3) EPC
R. 61a EPC

G 2/91
Decision of 29.11.1991
OJ EPO 1992, 206

"Appeal fees/KROHNE"

–

Reimbursement of appeal fees where several parties have filed an appeal

Art. 107 EPC

G 3/91
Decision of 07.09.1992
OJ EPO 1993, 8

"Re-establishment of rights/FABRITIUS II"

–

Applicability of Article 122(5) EPC to the time limits under Rule 104b(1)(b) and (c) EPC (R. 107(1)(c) and (e) EPC) together with Articles 157(2)(b) and 158(2) EPC

Art. 78(2), 79(2), 122(5), 157(2)(b), 158(2) EPC
R. 104b(1)(b)(c) EPC
(R. 107(1)(c)(e) EPC)
(see however G 5/93)

G 4/91
Decision of 03.11.1992
OJ EPO 1993, 707

"Intervention/DOLEZYCH II"

–

Intervention (in opposition proceedings by an assumed infringer)

Art. 105, 107 EPC

G 5/91
Decision of 05.05.1992
OJ EPO 1992, 617

"Appealable decision/DISCOVISION"

–

Suspected partiality of a member of an Opposition Division - ground of appeal?

Art. 19(2), 24 EPC

G 6/91
Decision of 06.03.1992
OJ EPO 1992, 491

"Fee reduction/ASULAB"

–

Entitlement to fee reduction

Art. 14(2) and (4) EPC
R. 6(3) EPC

G 7/91
Decision of 05.11.1992
OJ EPO 1993, 356

"Withdrawal of appeal/BASF"

–

Effect of withdrawal of the appeal (by the sole appellant, who was the opponent in the first instance)

Art. 113(2), 114(1) EPC
R. 60(2), 66(1) EPC

G 8/91
Decision of 05.11.1992
OJ EPO 1993, 346
Corr. OJ EPO 1993, 478

"Withdrawal of appeal/BELL"

–

Effect of withdrawal of the appeal (by the sole appellant)

Art. 113(2), 114(1) EPC
R. 60(2), 66(1) EPC

G 9/91
Decision of 31.03.1993
OJ EPO 1993, 408

"Power to examine/ROHM AND HAAS"

–

Extent of power to examine opposition

Art. 101, 102, 110, 114 EPC
R. 55, 56 EPC

G 10/91
Opinion of 31.03.1993
OJ EPO 1993, 420

"Examination of oppositions/appeals"

–

Extent of obligation and power to examine grounds for opposition

Art. 99 to 102, 110, 114 EPC
R. 55, 56, 66 EPC

G 11/91
Decision of 19.11.1992
OJ EPO 1993, 125

"Glu-Gln/CELTRIX"

–

Correction of errors

Art. 100(c), 117(1), 123(1)(2), 138(1)(c) EPC
R. 86 and 88, second sentence, EPC

G 12/91
Decision of 17.12.1993
OJ EPO 1994, 285

"Final decision/NOVATOME II"

–

Conclusion of written proceedings - Handing over of decision by formalities section to EPO postal service

R. 68 EPC

G 1/92
Opinion of 18.12.1992
OJ EPO 1993, 277

"Availability to the public"

–

Novelty - state of the art - availability - composition of product - public prior use

Art. 54(2), 112(1)(b) EPC

G 2/92
Opinion of 06.07.1993
OJ EPO 1993, 591

"Non-payment of further search fees"

–

Lack of unity of invention - consequences of non-payment of further search fees

Art. 82 EPC
R. 46 EPC

G 3/92
Decision of 13.06.1994
OJ EPO 1994, 607

"Unlawful applicant/LATCHWAYS"

–

Dissenting opinion - Final decision by a national court - Party other than applicant entitled to patent - Third parties' interests - Withdrawal of original application by unlawful applicant - Filing of new application by lawful applicant

Art. 60, 61, 167 EPC
R. 13, 14, 15, 16 EPC;
Art. 1, 9 Protocol on Recognition;
Art. 12a RPEBA

G 4/92
Opinion of 29.10.1993
OJ EPO 1994, 149

"Basis of decisions"

–

Right to comment - Party absent from oral proceedings

Art. 113(1), 114(1)(2) EPC
R. 71(2) EPC

G 5/92
Decision of 27.09.1993
OJ EPO 1994, 22

"Re-establishment/HOUPT"

–

Applicability of Article 122(5) EPC

Art. 122(5) EPC

G 6/92
Decision of 27.09.1993
OJ EPO 1994, 25

"Re-establishment/DURIRON"

–

Applicability of Article 122(5) EPC

Art. 122(5) EPC

G 9/92; G 4/93
Decision of 14.07.1994
OJ EPO 1994, 875

"Non-appealing party/BMW"

–

Reformatio in peius - Patent maintained in amended form in accordance with auxiliary request - Opposing parties each adversely affected - Appeal by one party - Requests by a non-appealing party which go beyond the appellant's requests in the notice of appeal - Minority opinion

Art. 101(2), 107, 111, 114(1) EPC
R. 58(2), 64(b), 65(1), 66(1) EPC

G 10/92
Opinion of 28.04.1994
OJ EPO 1994, 633

"Divisional application"

–

Filing of divisional application: time limit

R. 25 EPC

G 1/93
Decision of 02.02.1994
OJ EPO 1994, 541

"Limiting feature/ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS"

–

Conflicting requirements of Article 123, paragraphs 2 and 3, EPC

Art. 123(2), (3) EPC

G 2/93
Decision of 21.12.1994
OJ EPO 1995, 275

"Hepatitis A Virus/UNITED STATES OF AMERICA II"

–

Sufficiency of disclosure - Culture deposit information

Art. 83 EPC
R. 28 EPC

G 3/93
Opinion of 16.08.1994
OJ EPO 1995, 18

"Priority interval"

–

Priority - document published during the priority interval - State of the art - document published during the priority interval - Invalid priority - different invention - Obiter dictum - admissibility of the referral

Art. 54(2), 87 to 89 EPC

G 5/93
Decision of 18.01.1994
OJ EPO 1994, 447

"Re-establishment/NELLCOR"

–

Applicability of Article 122(5) EPC

Art. 122(5), 150, 157(2)(b), 158(2) EPC
R. 104b(1)(b), EPC (R. 107(1)(c) EPC)

G 7/93
Decision of 13.05.1994
OJ EPO 1994, 775

"Late amendments/WHITBY II"

–

Amendments after a Rule 51(6) communication - discretion of Examining Divisions - Reservations under Article 167(2) EPC

Art. 96(2), 113(2), 123(1), 167(2) EPC
R. 51(4) EPCReg 51(6), 86(3) EPC

G 8/93
Decision of 13.06.1994
OJ EPO 1994, 887

"Withdrawal of opposition/SERWANE II"

–

Withdrawal of opposition without withdrawal of appeal - Termination of appeal proceedings

Art. 114(1) EPC
R. 60(2), 66(1) EPC

G 9/93
Decision of 06.07.1994
OJ EPO 1994, 891

"Opposition by patent proprietor/PEUGEOT AND CITROEN"

–

Opposition filed by proprietor against own patent - receivability

Art. 99 EPC

G 10/93
Decision of 30.11.1994
OJ EPO 1995, 172

"Scope of examination in ex parte appeal/
SIEMENS"

–

Inclusion of new grounds in ex parte
proceedings - Reformatio in peius

Art. 96(2), 97(1), 110, 111(1), 114(1) EPC

G 1/94
Decision of 11.05.1994
OJ EPO 1994, 787

"Intervention/ALLIED COLLOIDS"

–

Admissibility of intervention during appeal proceedings

Art. 105 EPC

G 2/94
Decision of 19.02.1996
OJ EPO 1996, 401

"Representation/HAUTAU II"

–

Oral submissions by an accompanying person in ex parte proceedings - Oral submissions by a former member of the board of appeal in either ex parte or inter partes proceedings

Art. 116,133, 134 EPC

G 1/95
Decision of 19.07.1996
OJ EPO 1996, 615

"Fresh grounds for opposition/DE LA RUE"

–

No power to examine fresh grounds for opposition without agreement of patentee

Art. 99, 100(a) (b) (c), 114(1) EPC
R. 55, 56 EPC

G 2/95
Decision of 14.05.1996
OJ EPO 1996, 555

"Replacement of application documents/ATOTECH"

–

Substitution of complete documents forming an application by other documents by way of a correction under Rule 88 EPC (no)

Art. 14(1)(2), 80(d), 87(2), 100(c), 123(2), 138(1)(c), 164(2) EPC
Art. 4A(2) Paris Convention
R. 88 EPC
R. 91.1(c) PCT

G 3/95
Opinion of 27.11.1995
OJ EPO 1996, 169

"Inadmissible referral"

–

Patentability of plant and animal varieties - No conflicting decision - Inadmissible referral by the President of the EPO

Art. 53(b), 112(1)(b) EPC

G 4/95
Decision of 19.02.1996
OJ EPO 1996, 412

"Representation/BOGASKY"

–

Oral submission by an accompanying person in opposition or opposition appeal proceedings

Art. 116, 117, 133, 134 EPC

G 6/95
Decision of 24.07.1996
OJ EPO 1996, 649

"Interpretation of Rule 71a(1) EPC/GE CHEMICALS"

–

Interpretation of Rule 71a(1) EPC vis-à-vis the boards of appeal

Art. 23, 33(1)(b), 112(1)(a), 164(2) EPC
Art. 11(2), 18 RPBA
R. 10(2), 11, 66(1), 71, 71a(1) EPC

G 7/95
Decision of 19.07.1996
OJ EPO 1996, 626

"Fresh grounds for opposition/ETHICON"

–

No power to examine fresh grounds for opposition without agreement of patentee

Art. 99, 100(a)(b)(c), 114(1) EPC
R. 55, 56 EPC

G 8/95
Decision of 16.04.1996
OJ EPO 1996, 481

"Correction of decision to grant/US GYPSUM II"

–

Relative competence of the Technical and Legal Boards of Appeal - Refusal of a correction of the decision to grant

Art. 21(3) EPC
R. 89 EPC

G 1/97
Decision of 10.12.1999
OJ EPO 2000, 322

"Request with a view to revision/ETA"

–

Administrative or jurisdictional measures to
be taken in response to requests based on the
alleged violation of a fundamental procedural
principle and aimed at the revision of a final decision taken by a board of appeal having the force of res judicata - Entry in the Register of
European Patents

Art. 21, 23(1) (3), 24, 106(1), 110(1), 111(1), 113, 114, 116, 121, 122, 125, 127 EPC
R. 10(2), 11, 65(1), 66(2), 67, 89, 90, 92(1) (2) EPC
Art.: 10 RPBA
Art.: 11a, 11b RPEBA
Art.: 23 RDR
Art.: 31, 32, 62 (5) TRIPS
Art.: 31 (3) Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties

G 2/97
Decision of 12.11.1998
OJ EPO 1999, 123

"Good faith/UNILEVER"

–

Fee for appeal - Principle of good faith - Principle of the protection of legitimate expectations

Art. 112(1)(a), 108 EPC
R. 69(1) EPC

G 3/97
Decision of 21.01.1999
OJ EPO 1999, 245

"Opposition on behalf of a third party/INDUPACK"

–

Admissibility of opposition - acting on behalf of a third party - Circumvention of the law by abuse of process

Art. 99
R. 55

G 4/97
Decision of 21.01.1999
OJ EPO 1999, 270

"Opposition on behalf of a third party/GENENTECH"

–

Admissibility of opposition - acting on behalf of a third party - Circumvention of the law by abuse of process

Art. 99
R. 55

G 1/98
Decision of 20.12.1999
OJ EPO 2000, 111

"Transgenetic plant/NOVARTIS II"

–

Claims comprising but not identifying plant varieties - Plant varieties as products of recombinant gene technology - Article 64(2) EPC not relevant for examination of product claims

Art. 52, 53(b), 54, 64(2) EPC
R. 23b EPC
Art. 2(b) Strasbourg Patent Convention
Art. 2 UPOV Convention 1961
Art. 1(vi) UPOV Convention 1991

G 2/98
Opinion of 31.05.2001
OJ EPO 2001, 413

"Requirement for claiming priority of the "same invention""

–

Interpretation of the concept of "the same invention" referred to in Article 87(1) EPC - Consistency of the interpretation with the Paris Convention and the EPC - Conformity of the interpretation with principles of equal treatment and legal certainty and with the requirement of consistency as regards assessment of novelty and inventive step

Art. 54(2)(3), 56, 60(2), 83, 84, 87(1)EPCArt 87(4), 88(2) (3) (4), 89, 93, 112(1)(b), 123(2)(3) EPC
Art. 4A(1), 4C(4), 4F, 4H, 19 Paris Convention 
Art. 11b RPEBA

G 3/98
Decision of 12.07.2000
OJ EPO 2001, 62

"Six-month period/UNIVERSITY PATENTS"

–

Admissibility of referral - significance of the point of law in the appeal proceedings (yes) - Calculation of the six-month period under Article 55 EPC - relevant date - date of actual filing of the application

Art. 54(2)(3), 55(1)(a), 56, 89, 112(1)(a) EPC
R. 23 EPC
Art. 17(2) RPBA
Art. 2, 4 Paris Convention
Art. 4 SPC
Art. 6 EHRC

G 4/98
Opinion of 27.11.2000
OJ EPO 2001, 131

"Designation fees"

–

Failure to pay designation fees - No retroactive effect of deemed withdrawal except for Article 67 EPC - Deemed withdrawal takes effect upon expiry of the time limit for payment of designation fees

Art. 66, 67, 76, 79, 80, 90, 91, 112 EPC
R. 15, 25, 85a, 107, 108 EPC
Art. 4 Paris Convention 

G 1/99
Decision of 02.04.2001
OJ EPO 2001, 381

"Reformatio in peius / 3M"

–

Reformatio in peius - exception to the prohibition - Status of appellant/opponent - Status of appellant/patent proprietor

Art. 100, 101(1), 102(1)(2)(3), 106(1), 107, 108, 112(1)(a), 114(1), 123(2), 123(3), 125 EPC
R. 57a , 58(2), 64(b), 66(1), 87 EPC

G 2/99
Decision of 12.07.2000
OJ EPO 2001, 83

"Six-month period/DEWERT"

–

Admissibility of referral - significance of the point of law in the appeal proceedings (yes) - Calculation of the six-month period under Article 55 EPC - relevant date - date of actual filing of the application

Art. 54(2)(3), 55(1)(a), 56, 89 and 112(1)(a) EPC
R. 23 EPC
Art. 17(2) RPBA
Art. 2, 4 Paris Convention
Art. 4 SPC
Art. 6 ECHR

G 3/99
Decision of 18.02.2002
OJ EPO 2002, 347

"Admissibility of joint opposition or joint appeal/HOWARD FLOREY"

–

Admissibility - Fee for opposition - persons acting in common in filing notice of opposition - common opposition - joint opposition
Admissibility - Fee for appeal - persons acting in common in filing notice of appeal - common appeal - joint appeal - Common representative

Art. 58, 99, 99(1), 104, 107, 110(1), 112(1)(a), 133, 133(4), 134 EPC
R. 1, 26(2)(c), 36(3), 55, 55(a), 56(2), 60(2), 66(1), 100, 100(1) EPC

G 1/02
Opinion of 22.01.2003
OJ EPO 2003, 165

"Formalities officers´ powers"

–

Opposition divisions - formalities officers - decisions - powers

Art. 10(2)(a), 10(2)(i), 15, 18(2), 19, 19(1), 19(2), 21, 21(3)(a), 21(3)(b), 21(3)(c), 21(4), 33(3), 90, 91, 91(3), 99(1), 102(5), 106, 112(1)(b), 164(2) EPC
R. 9, 9(3), 51(4), 55(c), 56(1), 56(2), 56(3), 57(1), 69(1), 69(2) EPC
Notice of the Vice-President of Directorate-General 2 dated 28.4.1999, points 4 and 6

G 2/02 and G 3/02
Decision of 26.04.2004
OJ EPO 2004, 483

"Priorities from India/ASTRAZENECA"

–

International applications - priorities from India - Applicability of Article 87(5) EPC - The position under the PCT - The EPO not party to TRIPS - Interpretation of Article 87 EPC - according to principles of public international law - in the light of obligations of contracting states under TRIPS

Art. 23(3), 33, 66, 87(1) and EPCArt 87(5), 88, 112(1)(a), 150(2), 172 EPC

Art. 8 PCT

R. 4.10 PCT

Art. 1 - 12, 4A(2), 19 Paris Convention

Art. 5, 26, 34, 38 Vienna Convention 1969

Art. 34, 35, 38 Vienna Convention 1986

Art. 1, 2 (1) TRIPS Agreement

Art. 38 Statute, International Court of Justice

Art. 27 Universal Declaration of Human Rights

G 1/03
Decision of 08.04.2004
OJ EPO 2004, 413

"Disclaimer/PPG"

–

Allowability of disclaimers - delimitation against state of the art under Article 54(2) and (3) (4) -

accidental anticipation - exclusion of subject-matter not eligible for patent protection

Drafting of disclaimers - requirements of clarity and conciseness

Art. 52, 53, 54(2), (3) and (4), 56, 57, 60(2), 84, 87(1), 112(1), 123(2) and (3), 139(2) EPC

R. 27(1)(b), 29(1) EPC

G 2/03
Decision of 08.04.2004
OJ EPO 2004, 448

"Disclaimer/GENETIC SYSTEMS"

–

Allowability of disclaimers - delimitation against state of the art under Article 54(2) and (3) (4) - accidental anticipation - exclusion of subject-matter not eligible for patent protection

Drafting of disclaimers - requirements of clarity and conciseness

Art. 52, 53, 54(2), (3) and (4), 56, 57, 60(2), 84, 87(1), 112(1), 123(2) and (3), 139(2) EPC

R. 27(1)(b), 29(1) EPC

G 3/03
Decision of 28.01.2005
OJ EPO 2005, 344

"Reimbursement of the appeal fee//HIGHLAND"

–

Interlocutory revision and request for reimbursement of the appeal fee - department of the first instance not competent to refuse the request for reasons of equity - competence of the board of appeal which would have been competent to decide on the substantive issues of the appeal in the absence of interlocutory revision

Art. 21, 106, 107, 108, 109, 111(1) and 112(1) EPC

R. 67 EPC

Art. 11 RFees